Re: MLB Off-Topic

[Blzer]

Responding to myself...

Spring Training does something that I wish all regular season games would do, and it's improvement by subtraction and related to the ABS talk (I've mentioned it here before, but it's more relevant now than ever): they keep the live pitch tracker off the screen. I've always hated the thing that shows the strike zone and where the ball crosses the plate.

It's too much clutter and it makes us all armchair umpires in real time (including broadcasters), and furthermore now that we have the ABS system it'll take away the anticipation of the moment when the final decision is made (and it'll make us call them dumb-dumbs for challenging if we know they'll be wrong simply because we have technological foresight).

I've always wanted them to get rid of that, but it seems now more than ever it would certainly be appropriate to do so. They can show it on replays, I'm good with that. I just don't like the real time version. Never have. These ST games only reaffirm that.

In the Giants ST game today, the broadcasters brought this exact thing up, and he said "We were told that might not return in the regular season."

This was followed up later in the game with a potential reason, which is that if those broadcasts are somehow available to the players/coaches and they could be tipped off on the result of the pitch before the next pitch occurs, they might be able to challenge it (they joked about banging a trash can).

On that technicality alone, holy hell do I love this ABS system if that means they get rid of it!

The WBC has it in real time (and I hate it), but then again they don't have challenges. Makes sense at least.

[DrJones]

Lots of great finishes at the World Baseball Classic this weekend (Japan/Korea, Nicaragua/Netherlands, Panama/Puerto Rico, Japan/Australia). I know it's not particularly popular in these forums, but I'm a big fan of the WBC - love the passion of the East Asian (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) and Latino fans (and players). American and Dominican lineups are preposterous.

I really wish Japan would host some of its games at Koshien Stadium or the "Zoom Zoom" stadium in Hiroshima, though - much more aesthetically pleasing than the Tokyo Dome.

[countryboy]

Lots of great finishes at the World Baseball Classic this weekend (Japan/Korea, Nicaragua/Netherlands, Panama/Puerto Rico, Japan/Australia). I know it's not particularly popular in these forums, but I'm a big fan of the WBC - love the passion of the East Asian (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) and Latino fans (and players). American and Dominican lineups are preposterous.

I really wish Japan would host some of its games at Koshien Stadium or the "Zoom Zoom" stadium in Hiroshima, though - much more aesthetically pleasing than the Tokyo Dome.

I love the WBC. Seeing the excitement in the stands versus the "ho-hum" energy we see in most American games. And there is some pretty good baseball that is played. Love listening to the background stories of guys from other countries that never played in the majors.

[DrJones]

Incredible. With USA's shocking loss to Italy, the US can be eliminated tomorrow if Mexico beats Italy while scoring 4 runs or fewer, meaning a "Disgrace of Gijon" scenario (ie, collusion) is possible.

For those unfamiliar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgrace_of_Gijon

Whatever happens tomorrow, I'm guessing we'll see different tiebreaker rules in 2029!

[countryboy]

So who had Italy beating the US on their bingo card?

To think the US may not make it to the knockout stages is just crazy

[DrJones]

So who had Italy beating the US on their bingo card?

To think the US may not make it to the knockout stages is just crazy

The variance of individual games is a beautiful thing. I fully expect Canada to lose to Cuba after beating Puerto Rico yesterday - it's kind of on-brand for us.

DeRosa thinking that the US had already clinched a QF spot after beating Mexico was ridiculous. I don't expect the players to be aware, but NOBODY in management was aware of WBC tiebreakers? You'd think all the teams would have a nerd on staff to let them know about WBC quirks and edge cases - especially since there was already an example of these coming into play in the Australia/Korea game!

[D Tom]

should never manage again, and they even came out with a weak "I misspoke" excuse. If you misspoke, then why were the players up celebrating late into the night? Your lie only makes the situation worse, if it is in fact true.

[Majingir]

I definitely could see some funny business happening in Italy vs Mexico.

But more pressure is on Mexico than Italy since Mexico has to win to advance while Italy can still advance with a loss (Mexico scoring less than 5 runs).

IF something does happen, I wonder which side might start "phoning it in". Though in baseball it's much harder to manage the game than basketball or hockey or soccer.

In those sports, if you need to not allow X amount of goals or points to advance even in a loss, you can just play a more defensive and slow game. In baseball, you can't choose to play a slow paced low scoring game.

[DrJones]

IF something does happen, I wonder which side might start "phoning it in". Though in baseball it's much harder to manage the game than basketball or hockey or soccer.

I'm sure Mexico would love to stick it the the US. The "Italians" probably just want to win.

[DrJones]

Italy only needs to score 2 more runs to put Team USA through to the QF...

...unless it goes into extras. If Mexico wins 5-4 with no outs in the 10th, it would come down to an EARNED Runs per Defensive Outs tiebreaker, which would depend on how Mexico scored their runs tonight. If Mexico wins 5-4 with one out in the 10th or later, then the US is out. It's also possible for the US to be eliminated if Mexico wins 6-4, 6-5, etc. if the game goes 12+ innings or whatever, but that's one-in-a-million stuff.

[Majingir]

Canada-USA in the quarters....I don't like how this will end

[countryboy]

Who had Italy winning Group B pool on their bingo card?



Sent from the Operation Sports App

[Ghost Of The Year]

Who had Italy winning Group B pool on their bingo card?



Sent from the Operation Sports App

Baseball in Italy hasn't been this interesting since the days of Lenny Randle.

[DrJones]

Canada-USA in the quarters....I don't like how this will end

Yeah, the Americans are probably a little embarrassed, and they aren't going to do us the favour of rolling out Nolan McLean and backups.

It won't surprise me much if Canada gets mercy'd, TBH. (In case you're wondering, the mercy rule is in effect for the quarters, but not the semis or final).

[DrJones]

Respectable showing from Canada. Skenes against the Dominican lineup is gonna be must-see TV.

[Majingir]

Canada blew it. 2nd and 3rd 0 outs down by 2 and they got nothing!

[DamnYanks2]

This is absolute cinema.